A new resource designed to help community groups and key adults support safe online discussions about suicide and self-harm has been launched by Orygen’s world-leading #chatsafe team.
#chatsafe for Communities: using social media for suicide prevention and postvention (edition two) provides practical strategies to help communities proactively encourage safe online communication and respond effectively when young people are impacted by suicide.
The new resource builds on the world-leading and evidence-based #chatsafe guidelines, developed by Orygen’s suicide prevention team to support young people in safely communicating online about suicide and self-harm.
#chatsafe for Communities has been developed in consultation with young people, suicide prevention experts and community services across the country to produce advice for mental health and suicide prevention providers, primary health networks, and the broader community – including sporting organisations, faith groups and volunteer associations.
The guide offers practical tips on:
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How community organisations and key adults can proactively encourage safe online communication about self-harm and suicide among young people
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How community groups can respond online if your community is impacted by suicide
“The research shows social media plays a significant role in how young people communicate and seek support, particularly in times of crisis,” Dr Michelle Lamblin, Program Manager of Suicide Prevention at Orygen, said.
“#chatsafe’s resources have reached more than 2 million young people and over 300,000 parents and carers, but we know it ‘takes a village’, and so this new resource is designed to help communities navigate these conversations in a way that is safe, supportive, and informed by the latest research.”
The guide includes research-backed information on the role of social media in suicide prevention and postvention, tips on supporting safe online communication about self-harm and suicide, as well as how to moderate, report or remove unsafe online content.
In the event of a youth suicide in the community, readers can find advice on making safe online memorials, and a framework for developing a social media communications protocol for postvention.
Accompanying the launch of the new guide is a set of free downloadable posters, handouts and social media tiles that can be used to support the community’s suicide prevention and postvention activity.
To receive a copy of the printed guide or to find out more about the #chatsafe program, email [email protected].
The #chatsafe program is funded by the Commonwealth Government's National Suicide Prevention Leadership Support Program.